Monday, August 2, 2010

Odd thoughts on my taper and Leadville...

This odd typical thought/ feeling came to me this morning.
Now that the training for Leadville is pretty much done with and my 'hay is in the barn' I am quite satisfied with the Summer. In the sense that whether I run Leadville or not I'm going to be satisfied with the training I put in which is always the most fun part for me. Like driving across the US to see a city and then never seeing the city... you still saw tons along the way that most likely, as a whole, far surpasses what that city has to offer.
I feel good physically and I think my running has gone swimmingly. But when I step back and look at the big picture, Leadville doesn't need to happen in order for me to be very pleased with my year... I don't want the race to ruin all of this awesome training! If my alarm doesn't go off on Friday the 20th and I miss 'weigh in' then I don't think I'll care too much.

Long time lurker/reader. I would have to agree with you. Everything you do leading up to that "big day" almost makes that day seem less of a big deal. All the stories/experiences you made leading up to that day are, in my eyes, one of the best parts about training.

4th ranked ass is quite an accomplishment. Of course I have been told I am the biggest ass in the world. At the end of the day we have our kids and families. I love the idea that if I don't go to Leadville on that Friday my wife and my sons will still look at me with a smile on their face and love in their hearts. How can I be upset?

On the other hand...the satisfaction of completing and competing well at something you spent many hours training for (away from family/work/friends) also can be the source of enormous satisfaction (and makes for darn interesting reading when the experience is put to words and posted, say, on a blog!).

No question the journey is reward enough (especially when it includes miles and miles of mountain singletrack). Still, the destination can make the journey even more sweet, particularly in the right frame of mind.

Imagine how it must feel riding into Paris at the end of the Tour de France, even if you're in 120th place.

Great points Jim, though 'the right frame of mind' seems to elude me these days. I will almost certainly run Leadville and something that a friend suggested I do rather than skip the start is to run on the front and push the leader (Anton). If I blow then I blow... but if I don't then I will have an epic day. And then a sweet blog post of what it's like to run on the front of a legendary race with a legend. Could be fun?

Wow Justin... not sure where to begin on that other than that attitude is such a pussy way out. An 'easy excuse to DNF' because I had the balls to even try to win ties straight in to the fact that you picked Anton over yourself which only shows what you lack the most- BALLS. You are faster, more talented, and more capable over the marathon distance (even up and down a mountain) than he is... step up and grow a pair and go with the leaders up Pikes and you may surprise yourself. But you have to have the balls to TRY for God sake! That sit back and play it safe attitude is pathetic and NOTHING great ever came from it and when you criticize others for having balls it only comes off as being weak and meek. Fuck that. Give people with the guts to try something crazy and bold some credit and even better- try it yourself. You have huge potential man, why sit back and be scared of failing? And saying that YOU picked him to get second means what? What were your picks for Barr? Matt C to win?

And finally. Go back and re-read what I wrote, "something that a friend suggested I do". That doesn't mean I am going to do it. But now you have me so worked up and pissed... I think I will :) Cheers

But you also could crush it at Pikes and it pisses me off that you think that race strategy is setting one up for failure. It is for sure! BUT it is also setting you up for doing something great and unexpected... which you can do. Go with the leaders and go till you blow. Either you do something amazing or you still do something amazing- you had the guts to try. In this day and age that is something.

I ain't taking two days off of work, dragging my ass up and down hope pass, slogging through the river and stumbling along the rutty path by turquoise lake trying to keep up with you unless you're going to race hard. I wouldn't expect anything less.

Thanks JV. Enjoying the day really is the key for me. I don't think I'll bother to finish if I stop enjoying the day. So far my only numbers goal is to consume 3200 calories and 320 oz of water by Winfield. I figure after that there's little use in a 'plan'.

Screw 'smart', go for it and see what happens. 8.5 minute miles will not get you tired--100 miles will. Finish that shit as fast as possible, preferably while listening to some Native American drumbeats, then write a sweet blog post about the experience.

Then again, I'd be the guy that sprints off the front in the Tour just to get on TV. So take my advice with a 55 gallon barrel of salt.

Really, as you were saying the other night, look at Geoff and Tony. Totally different approaches, amazing results. How much of ultras is training and how much is approach is debatable--I think you have the training, so f**k approach. Either way, you are a winner in my book. Granted, my book has pop-up pictures and the grammar appears to be translated from English to Japanese, then back to English before finally being translated to "Tea Party Signholder."